Israel aiming to fully switch to electric cars by 2030

After 2030 import of diesel and gasoline cars will be prohibited, energy minister says.

By REUTERS

October 9, 2018 22:17

1 minute read.

New imported cars are seen in a parking lot near Eilat's port, Israel, June 12, 2018New imported cars are seen in a parking lot near Eilat's port, Israel, June 12, 2018.
(photo credit: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS)

Dear Reader,
As you can imagine, more people are reading The Jerusalem Post than ever before.
Nevertheless, traditional business models are no longer sustainable and high-quality publications,
like ours, are being forced to look for new ways to keep going. Unlike many other news organizations,
we have not put up a paywall. We want to keep our journalism open
and accessible and be able to keep providing you with news
and analysis from the frontlines of Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.

JERUSALEM, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Israelis will no longer be able to buy new gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles after 2030, the Energy Ministry said on Tuesday, unveiling a plan to replace them with electric cars and trucks that run on natural gas.

The challenge will be creating an initial "critical mass" of cars that will move the local industry away from gasoline and diesel engines, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said.

"We are already encouraging by funding charging stations, more than 2,000 new charging stations around the country," Steinitz told Reuters.

The government, he said, will also "reduce taxation on electric cars to almost zero, so they are going to be much cheaper."

The electric vehicle campaign is part of a broader plan to completely wean Israel off gasoline, diesel and coal. Israel in recent years discovered huge deposits of natural gas, a cleaner-burning fossil fuel, and it is converting its power stations accordingly.

The plan was released a day after a U.N. report on climate change called for major changes in the way humankind uses energy.

The tipping point is expected around 2025, when, according to the ministry's target, there will be about 177,000 electric cars on the road in Israel. Today there are just a few dozen.

After that, it will become easier and cheaper to own electric cars, so the ministry expects the number should jump to nearly 1.5 million by 2030.

The Jerusalem Post Customer Service Center can be contacted with any questions or requests:
Telephone: *2421 * Extension 4 Jerusalem Post or 03-7619056 Fax: 03-5613699E-mail: subs@jpost.com
The center is staffed and provides answers on Sundays through Thursdays between 07:00 and 14:00 and Fridays only handles distribution requests between 7:00 and
13:00
For international customers: The center is staffed and provides answers on Sundays through Thursdays between 7AM and 6PM
Toll Free number in Israel only 1-800-574-574
Telephone +972-3-761-9056
Fax: 972-3-561-3699
E-mail: subs@jpost.com